CENTERVILLE—While many Centerville residents enjoyed the city’s July 4 celebration and fireworks on July 6, they may be planning on doing their own thing for July 24. In that case, it’s important to note that fireworks restrictions enacted over the past few years are still in effect.

South Davis Metro Fire Service Area Deputy Chief Greg Stewart gave the Centerville City Council an update on those restrictions recently.

“We are just here to speak in favor and support of maintaining the restrictions the way that we have in the last few years,” he said. “If you look at the stats that we’ve had since 2018, the public is getting the message. We always try to push to a professional show, to come to Centerville or Mirror Lake or West Bountiful to see fireworks instead of doing them at their homes, because typically the problems that we have are in really light fuels that burn quickly and hot, destroy property and cause injury so we’re hoping to just maintain the status quo.”

In Utah in July Class “C” fireworks may only be discharged July 2-5 and July 22-25 between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m.; extended to midnight on July 4 and 24. They may also be discharged Dec. 31-Jan. 1, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Chinese New Year’s Eve Feb. 9 to 10, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

On those discharge dates the department runs an extra crew to patrol for fireworks violations and in danger areas such as trailheads to look for unattended campfires, Stewart said.

A letter from Davis County Fire Chief Dane Stone also indicated that there could be an increased risk of wildfires in the city.

“With the precipitation we have had over the last few years, we will likely see a significant growth in flash fuels, which may contribute to possible wildland urban-interface fires,” it said. “Based on the location of such areas and the historical environmental conditions, the use of any ignition source, including fireworks, lighters, matches and sky lanterns should be prohibited in the restricted area. (See map).

The fire department has also been working with Centerville Police Chief Paul Child on developing wildfire evacuation zones, Stewart reported. 

“I just wanted to give kudos to the police chief because he’s been actively engaged,” he said. “When we talk about fireworks it’s always like we talk about rapid moving fire, people that are in harm's way. Chief Child has been actively engaged with our wildfire evacuation zones and coming up with evacuation routes. I can tell you from where I stand not every police chief is that way, so I appreciate his active engagement in that project.”

The department has also been working on evacuation zones with the U.S. Forestry Department and State Lands to develop evacuation zones “so we’re prepared before something catastrophic happens and we can get people out of harm’s way,” Stewart said.